When you live in a state like Michigan there are certain measures you need to take in the winter months to prevent your home from winter related damages. The two most common problems we see during the winter season are broken pipes and damage from ice dams.

Both these problems are preventable if the proper steps are taken prior to the cold season. With our simple tips for preventing broken pipes and ice dams from forming you can keep your home safe before it’s too late.

Preventing Burst Pipes

As the temperature begins to drop, we begin pulling out our winter jackets and starting the fireplace. However, a lot of people tend to overlook one of the most preventable problems that can occur during the long winter months in Detroit.

Without even realizing it, you could be standing in ankle deep water in your home trying to figure how your going to cover the repair costs. Any burst pipe could pour out gallons of water into your home, damaging your property and home structure. If the proper steps aren’t taken beforehand you could end up with a few broken water pipes and a hefty repair bill. Luckily, we have easy tips that anyone can follow on how to prevent pipes from freezing:

Tips for How to Prevent Water Pipes from Freezing

1. Insulate Your Pipes:

Regardless of the age of your home, there is always a chance of your pipes freezing and eventually bursting. Our first solution for preventing this is insulating your home’s piping system. You can purchase foam insulation from just about any home improvement store. Insulated piping will keep your pipes warm and helps with preventing the possibility freezing.

If foam insulation is not possible another way to insulate your piping is by wrapping them in thermal tape. It seems like a long and expensive process, but it nowhere compares to the damages and repair costs you will be facing if your pipes ever do break.

2. Seal Up Any Cracks Or Leaks:

Search throughout your home for any leaks or cracks that may be letting cold air into your home. You want to keep cold air out. Use caulk to plug and seal up any cracks that are letting the cool air in. Be sure to at least do any areas where piping is present. However, for the best preventative measures we suggest sealing up all leaks and cracks throughout your property.

3. Keep Everything Shut But Leave The Doors Open:

When we say keep everything shut, we are referring to all points in your house that could let cold air in. This includes your windows, outside doors and garages. Keeping everything closed will prevent cold air from entering and warm air from escaping.

That being said you want to keep your inside doors open. This allows warm air to circulate throughout your home allowing each room to be properly heated. This also helps heat reach all your piping decreasing the chances of them freezing.

4. Let Your Faucets Drip:

As annoying as a dripping faucet may be, it is a step in preventing your piping from freezing. One factor that contributes to pipes bursting is the buildup of pressure from when they freeze. Running water keeps pressure low within your pipes, so even letting your faucets drip a little can stop the possibility of any pipes bursting.

5. Drain Your Water System:

Drain your water system. More specifically your hoses and other outdoor faucets. Draining your water system leaves your pipes empty. With no water in the piping there is no chance of water freezing and causing the piping to rupture.

Drain and disconnect any outdoor water systems you may have.

6. Watch The Thermostat:

As much as we hate paying the heating bill you need to maintain a proper temperature within your home during the winter season. Keep your thermostat above 50 degrees. A couple extra of dollars on your heating bill has no comparison between the thousands of dollars you will end up paying in water damage repairs caused by burst pipes.

Even when you leave the home make sure to set your thermostat at a warm enough temperature to prevent freezing.

Ice Dam Prevention

Another major problem we see in the winter season is the formation of ice dams on roofs. An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of your roof. Heat rises and in modern homes the majority of heat loss is through the attic. When heat is trapped in your attic, certain parts of your roof become warm enough to melt snow and ice. When this happens, water slides down the structure and freezes at the ridge where heat is not existent. This causes the formation of ice dams and could cause more damage to your home then you may think.

Moisture enters your home through ice dams and if it’s not taken care of could lead to the growth of mold or mildew. As many of us know mold and mildew can cause respiratory problems and need to be taken care of immediately. Unfortunately, the moisture that comes from ice dams isn’t easy to find. However, there are preventive measures you can take to keep ice dams from forming during the winter season. Here are our ice dam remedies for preventing ice dam formation:

Tips For Ice Dam Solutions

1. Rake Your Roof:

It is best to seal your attic as much as possible. With proper insulation you can keep the heat and air contained. Make sure you have the proper amount of insulation throughout your attic. Use fiber glass to tightly fit and cover all areas of your attic space. The standard is to have at least 8 inches of fiberglass insulation covering every part of your attic’s roof. In this case it might be worth hiring a professional to come out and install it for you.

2. Know Your Attic Insulation:

It is best to seal your attic as much as possible. With proper insulation you can keep the heat and air contained. Make sure you have the proper amount of insulation throughout your attic. Use fiber glass to tightly fit and cover all areas of your attic space. The standard is to have at least 8 inches of fiberglass insulation covering every part of your attic’s roof. In this case it might be worth hiring a professional to come out and install it for you.

3. Seal Up Any Attic Bypasses:

Sealing up any areas where heat can escape is crucial for keeping the heat in. Most heat-loss comes from airs leaks throughout your attic space. They are often found in gaps between the drywall, unblocked walls, cracks around light fixtures and other areas.

To seal any possible air leaks, pull back your insulation and plug the holes using caulk, foam or other sealants. Not only will this prevent hot air from heating your roof but can also cut down on your heat and electrical bills.

4. Add Attic Ventilation:

A more long-term solution is cooling your attic. You can build and install an attic ventilation system that can flush hot air out and bring cool air in. Without the presence of heat there is no risk of the hot air escaping the attic and warming your roof.

It may require some extra money and work but being able to control your attics temperature could end up saving you in the long run.

5. Use Heat Tape/Cables:

The cheapest solution for preventing ice dams is installing heat tape in patterns along your home’s eaves, gutter and downspouts. Heat tape minimizes the water build up behind dams by creating paths for water to flow off the roof and onto the ground.

This is the cheapest method you can implement but could spike a rise in your electricity bill because they are run by electricity. Having heat cables installed by a professional is a cheap solution for preventing ice dams from causing damage to your home.

Executive Summary

Sometimes we overlook the small things that could in the end cost us more money then we thought. For the best preventative measures during the winter season it is recommended you hire a contractor to properly insulate your piping and attic space. The small price could end up saving you thousands in repair costs.